Petunia plant named ‘Balsunwhite’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Petunia  plant named ‘Balsunwhite’, characterized by its single type white-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Petunia×hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balsunwhite’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant botanically known as Petunia×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balsunwhite’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Arroyo Grande, Calif. during November 2003. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Petunia cultivars with single type flowers, unique flower coloration, and a vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit.

The new Petunia cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is Easy Wave White, not patented, characterized by its single type white-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and prostrate-trailing growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Petunia×hybrida breeding selection designated 2111-1, not patented, characterized by its single type cream white-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and semi-upright growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during September 2004 in a controlled environment at Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since September 2004 at Arroyo Grande, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balsunwhite’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant:

-   -   1. Single type white-colored flowers;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Moderately vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in growth habit and from plants of the male parent primarily in flower color and growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Petunia cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is Suncatcher White Improved ‘Balsunwitim’, not patented. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balsunwitim’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a purer white flower color         than plants of ‘Balsunwitim’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balsunwhite’. The plants were grown in 4.5 inch pots for 7 weeks in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balsunwhite’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of ‘Balsunwhite’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The color values were determined on Aug. 15, 2006 between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings taken from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown at West Chicago, Ill. in 4.5 inch pots for 7 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70° F. to 77° F. (21° C. to 25° C.) during the day and approximately 65° F. to 68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandles were maintained during the day.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia×hybrida cultivar Balsunwhite. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Easy Wave White, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary Petunia×hybrida breeding selection             designated 2111-1, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 9 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28             days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 6 to 8 weeks from a             rooted cutting.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,             mounded-trailing.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 11.4 cm. Width: Approximately 25.4 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching. Quantity of main branches             per plant: Approximately 3.         -   Branch.—Strength: Moderate. Length: Approximately 16.9 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 2.7 mm. Length of central internode:             Approximately 1.8 cm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent             with a mixture of long and short hairs. Gland color:             Colorless. Color of young and mature stems: 144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:             Approximately 15. Fragrance: Slight. Form: Simple.             Arrangement on flowering stem: Opposite.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Acute angle to stem. Shape: Ovate. Margin:             Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern:             Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately 3.4 cm. Width             of mature leaf: Approximately 2.0 cm. Texture of upper and             lower surfaces: Densely glandular pubescent with a mixture             of long and short hairs. Gland color: Colorless. Color of             upper surface of young and mature foliage: 137B with             venation of 143C. Color of lower surface of young and mature             foliage: More yellow than 138A with venation of 143C.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 3.2 mm. Width: Approximately             2.9 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color: 143C. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balsunwhite’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately             9 to 11 days. -   Flower description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Simple, salverform. Quantity per             plant: Approximately 8. Fragrance: None.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 1 to 2 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity per             plant: Approximately 3.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oblong. Length:             Approximately 4.0 cm. Diameter at apex: Approximately             1.1 cm. Diameter at base: Approximately 3.8 mm. Texture:             Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless. Color             of petals: 155D. Color of tube: 145D with venation of 145B.         -   Corolla.—Diameter: Approximately 6.2 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, fused to form a tube. Shape: Obovate.             Appearance: Velvety. Margin: Entire, wavy. Apex: Acute.             Length from tube: Approximately 2.8 cm. Length of free             portion: Approximately 1.5 cm. Width: Approximately 3.0 cm.             Texture of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower             surface: Sparsely pubescent. Color of upper surface when             first and fully open: Purer white than 155D with midveins of             145C. Color of lower surface when first and fully open:             Purer white than 155D with midveins of 145B.         -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 2.7 cm. Diameter at             distal end: Approximately 1.3 cm. Diameter at proximal end:             Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Glabrous.             Texture of outer surface: Densely pubescent. Color of inner             surface: Purer white than 155D with venation of 145C. Color             of outer surface: Purer white than 155D with an overlay of             145C and venation of 145B.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Acute angle to stem.             Length: Approximately 3.4 cm. Diameter: Approximately             2.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent with a mixture             of long and short hairs. Gland color: Colorless. Color:             144A.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused along lower half.             Shape: Linear. Apex: Acute. Length: Approximately 1.5 cm.             Width: Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower             surfaces: Densely glandular pubescent with a mixture of long             and short hairs. Gland color: Colorless. Color of upper             surface: 137A. Color of lower surface: 137B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5 per             flower, partially fused to inside of corolla tube. Stamen             length: Approximately 2 cm. Filament length of free portion:             Approximately 1.4 cm. Filament color: Purer white than 155D.             Anther shape: Bilobed. Anther length: Approximately 1.0 mm.             Anther color: 158C. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color:             155D. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil             length: Approximately 2.4 cm. Stigma shape: Funnel. Stigma             length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Stigma color: 143A. Style             length: Approximately 2.0 cm. Style color: 145C. Ovary             diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Ovary color: 144A. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Petunia has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant named ‘Balsunwhite’, substantially as herein shown and described. 